At some point in your history of driving, it is most likely that you have been a distracted driver.
This may have been caused by a fussy child in the car, by eating on the road, by adjusting the radio, or by using a cell phone. What you may not have realized is that a simple distraction can have huge consequences.
April has been designated Distracted Driving Awareness Month to call attention to the fact that driver inattention is at least partly responsible for the majority of car accidents. This is a great opportunity to explore and learn about distracted driving and the dangers that it causes.
The nature of accidents that involve distracted drivers are very severe. This is often due to the tiny reaction time that the driver has before impact. Some of the common types of accidents caused by distracted drivers include:
- Head-on collisions. As a driver looks down to text or answer the phone, he can quickly lose track of where he is on the road. The result? His vehicle may drift across lanes into oncoming traffic and collide head-on. Head-on collisions have a high fatality rate.
- Rear-end. This type of collision is very common in city settings where speeds are lower but traffic signs and signal lights abound. Looking at or talking on the phone can distract a driver just enough to not be able to brake in time for the car ahead of her.
- Side swipe. Driving through an intersection without looking, slowing, or stopping is a disaster waiting to happen. This often happens as a driver who is texting or talking blows through without even recognizing there is an intersection.
Have you been injured by a distracted driver? If so, you may be entitled to compensation. Fill out the contact form on this page to learn more about your legal options.
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